By Mark Edward Nero
On Sept. 21, the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners appointed the port’s Capital Programs Executive, Duane Kenagy, to the role of Interim Chief Executive Officer.
Kenagy will fill the shoes of Chief Executive Officer Jon Slangerup, who announced Sept. 8 that he is leaving the port to become Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of a Canada-based aviation technology company.
“Jon Slangerup leaves behind a legacy that has positioned us very well for the future,” Harbor Commission President Lori Ann Guzmán said. “The Commission is confident that Duane Kenagy will continue to lead the port on a trajectory of excellence moving forward.”
Kenagy, who joined the port in 2014, oversees nearly $4.5 billion in construction and improvement projects, the largest infrastructure investment of any port in the nation.
He has more than 35 years of engineering and design project management experience in the US and overseas, and administers the replacement of the aging Gerald Desmond Bridge and the redevelopment of the Middle Harbor Container Terminal, each budgeted at nearly $1.5 billion. Another $1 billion is budgeted for rail improvements to increase the movement of goods via rail.
“The Board is extremely pleased to have Duane Kenagy serve as our Interim CEO. He is highly respected by all of the Commissioners, very well regarded in our industry, and well-liked by the port staff,” Guzmán said.
Prior to joining the port, Kenagy worked for engineering consulting firm Moffatt & Nichol, and was a key player in the Alameda Corridor rail project.
“I’m looking forward to working with the Board of Harbor Commissioners, our tenants and customers, and the talented team here at the Port of Long Beach to continue our strong tradition of service and innovation,” Kenagy said in a statement. “I am fully committed to helping this great organization transition to the new Chief Executive at the conclusion of the Board’s search.”
His salary is proposed at $275,000 with duties to begin next week.
Kenagy is not a candidate for permanent appointment as Chief Executive, according to both he and the Port Commission. The Board of Harbor Commissioners issued a Request For Proposals this week to select a firm to conduct an international search for its next permanent CEO.
